Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Photo Credit: Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Skip the staycation and treat yourself to a month full of new experiences with these five exciting trips across the country. From cooking classes to bike races and even a Lamborghini test drive, May is shaping up to be anything but ordinary.
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Head to the West Coast for a more health-focused escape at Five-Star Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa.
From May 7 to 13, enjoy the resort’s Wellness Collective Retreat, a nutrition- and toxicity-focused program that is custom-curated to your needs in a three-, five- or seven-day experience.
Imagine taking in the view of the rolling hills from your secluded suite before joining a workshop on easy plant-based whole foods followed by a one-on-one nutrition consultation with a registered dietitian. Afterward, make your way to the Four-Star Spa at Rancho Valencia for your customized 90-minute daily spa therapy before enjoying your specially crafted alfresco dinner.
During your retreat, you will also enjoy daily private fitness or meditation sessions, cold pressed juice delivery and unlimited access to spa facilities and fitness classes.
Charleston, South Carolina
Round out your month of adventure with a little culture in charming Charleston at the Spoleto Festival USA. From May 26 to June 11, experience continuous entertainment throughout the city in the forms of opera, dance, theater, jazz and more.
Enjoy discounts on tickets when you stay at Spoleto Festival partner properties, like the Four-Star Belmond Charleston Place. This luxuriously historic hotel offers a showstopper of a package in honor of the festivities, which consists of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, breakfast at the Palmetto Cafe and dinner for two at the Four-Star Charleston Grill.
Castle Hill Inn, Photo Credit: Castle Hill Inn
Newport, Rhode Island
Kick off your month of adventures with a weekend at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Castle Hill Inn in Newport. From May 5 to 7, enhance your New England beach getaway with the hotel’s spring cooking class.
Executive chef Lou Rossi will guide you through a weekend of classic Italian dishes from the coastal Le Marche region, like porchetta (stuffed roasted pork), olive all’ascolana (fried, stuffed olives) and brodetto (Mediterranean fish stew), while pastry chef Matthew Petersen tops it all off with a class on tiramisu.
Complete your weekend of delicious dining (and cooking) with a wine tasting specially curated by the inn’s beverage director. The class is fully booked, but there is a waiting list available for eager participants.
Santa Rosa, California
Cheer on your favorite cook, and donate to a good cause, at the 2017 Chefs Cycle from May 16 to 18 in Santa Rosa.
This three-day, 300-mile endurance bike race features award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community fighting childhood hunger and raising awareness for No Kid Hungry. This year’s goal is to have more than 250 chefs riding to raise $2 million, enough to provide 20 million meals to children across the country.
The list of participants includes hospitality luminaries like chef Bryan Voltaggio, cocktail guru Tony Abou-Ganim and pastry wizard Duff Goldman.
After a long day of cheering in the hot California sun, head less than an hour south to Sonoma to rest your head at the Four-Star Hotel Les Mars, and partake in a complimentary breakfast delivered to your elegant room in the morning.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Photo Credit: Hilton
Chicago
Put the pedal to the metal in the Windy City during the Waldorf Astoria Driving Experiences May 12 through 14.
Through an exclusive partnership with Lamborghini, the Four-Star Waldorf Astoria Chicago gives you the chance to get behind the wheel of the Italian automaker’s latest lineup of super cars. Cruise along a specially customized route with a professional Lamborghini driving instructor for a one-of-a-kind tour of the Gold Coast.
After all that adrenaline, make your way to the hotel’s third floor for the Chicago debut of chef Michael Mina at Margeaux Brasserie. The classic French restaurant is slated to open at the beginning of May, offering traditional dishes like steak frites, escargot bordelaise and Dover sole meunière.
